Should mass deletion of one's own posts be permitted?

Right, so, sometimes there's a need for un-un-publishing.

Or is a betrayal to depend on a community for content and then override their right to remove their contribution?

I'm not saying it's one way or the other, just that it's interesting how this question seems to be something that will continually come up in different forms.

How one programmer broke the internet by deleting a tiny piece of code

I found this account of events an interesting read. Having worked in software development, I'm aware of the need for tight control over source code (and executable code too). However, those sorts of critical dependencies, where a change to a single binary digit could wreak havoc, is far away from the world we deal with on a discussion forum. I would not draw any conclusions from the refined and artificial environment of computer technology. On the contrary, I'd suggest that other than an entertaining distraction, that doesn't have any relevance here.

[Laird]

I'd suggest that other than an entertaining distraction, that doesn't have any relevance here.

Agreed - the point I "drew" from it was just a cheeky one.

I found this account of events an interesting read. Having worked in software development, I'm aware of the need for tight control over source code (and executable code too). However, those sorts of critical dependencies, where a change to a single binary digit could wreak havoc, is far away from the world we deal with on a discussion forum. I would not draw any conclusions from the refined and artificial environment of computer technology. On the contrary, I'd suggest that other than an entertaining distraction, that doesn't have any relevance here.

Oh yeah, it was meant only as an interesting parallel. Agreed on all your points.